Daughter traveling alone for first time

Hi Lora,

I assume the layover will be in Frankfurt? It's a modern airport, signage is in English, staff will speak English. Very easy to find your way around. I wouldn't worry about getting lost, especially if you have a nice cushion of 4 hours and don't have to feel pressed for time.

How old is she? If she is going to go be a teacher, she ought to be ok on her own.

No one can come back into the luggage areas. That is passengers only. I can't imagine someone needing help to find their luggage anyway, unless they were ill, or older, or handicapped in some way.

People do fly all the time by themselves and find their way around and amuse themselves in some fashion without expecting someone to come "help" them. Is your daughter concerned, or just you?

I'm guessing that if she signed up to teach in Spain, she has probably already confronted the issue of whether she would feel "lost" while waiting in an airport for a second flight. Even in China there is sufficient airport signage in English to be able to find the luggage carousel and retrieve a bag. Relax -- she'll be fine!

Thank you for all your replies. YES I am a worried mom just letting go of my 18 year old. I tend to be very sheltering and admit I need to let go. Don't see "Taken" starring Liam Neeson!

She'll be fine on her own for this short layover. Even if the signs weren't in German and English, she could still find her luggage by just following the picture of a suitcase that's right near the directional arrows pointing the way.

By the time she gets her luggage, uses the restroom, has something to eat, visits the airport shops and leisurely wanders over to her next departure gate, more than half the 4 hours will be gone. A good book or an iPod will help pass the time until the next flight is ready for boarding.

While Europe is a relatively safe place for a young woman, if she has been very sheltered, talk to her about the need for her to be aware of her surroundings (especially late at night, in large crowds or on public transit), alcohol awareness (not drinking too much, not leaving her drink unattended at a bar) and the kind of information she should not freely give out to complete strangers (i.e., don't tell the man she just met at the park that she's travelling alone and staying at a great apartment over on XYZ Street).

You don't need to make her feel paranoid, but she may need to quickly develop some street smarts if you have kept her on a short leash for all these years.

Lora, sometimes our kids will not listen to advice simply because it comes from us. If your daughter is like that, tell her you found some interesting info on this site about Spain. That's right, trick her. Maybe she'll start looking on her own and learn lots about traveling from us wise old folks who are NOT her parents.

I understand your anxiety. I am also an extremely protective parent (overprotective is probably a better description). But you know what, so are most of the parents I come into contact with. I am taking my two kids (ages 7 & 11) to Europe next week for six weeks. Not only did I make them each ID tags (in three languages) but I made about 30 backup copies in case they lose them! Your daughter must be very confident in herself to be making this trip in the first place. I commend her as I was not that adventuresome at 18. I still regret that I did not spend a semester abroad in college. Your daughter will have no regrets! Spain if wonderful, it is the first country we are visiting, we will be there on June 30th!